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Release Date: November 20, 2026
Director: Francis Lawrence
Based On: Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel
Remember when you finished watching the original Hunger Games trilogy and thought, “Man, I wish we knew more about Haymitch’s story?” Well, Suzanne Collins heard you. And in November 2026, we’re finally getting it.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping takes us back to the 50th Hunger Games—the Second Quarter Quell—where a young Haymitch Abernathy fought his way through the bloodiest Games in Panem’s history. This is the prequel fans have been asking for since Woody Harrelson first stumbled drunk onto our screens back in 2012.
What Is Sunrise on the Reaping About? The Hunger Games 4
If you’ve read the original books, you know that every 25 years, the Capitol holds a special Quarter Quell with twisted new rules. The 50th Games—Haymitch’s Games—doubled the number of tributes. Instead of 24 kids fighting to the death, there were 48.
Think about that for a second. Forty-eight teenagers in one arena. That’s not a Hunger Games—that’s a massacre with cameras.
The story follows young Haymitch Abernathy, 24 years before he becomes Katniss and Peeta’s mentor. We’ll see how he survived, what he lost, and why he turned into the broken, alcoholic mess we met in the first film. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t pretty.
The Second Quarter Quell Explained
The Capitol designed the Second Quarter Quell to send a message: “We can make it twice as bad whenever we want.” Twice the tributes, twice the bloodshed, twice the trauma for the districts to endure.
Haymitch was only 16 when he was reaped. By the time the Games ended, he’d lost everyone he cared about—including his family, killed by President Snow as punishment for how Haymitch won. It’s the kind of backstory that makes you understand why the guy drinks.
Cast: Who’s Playing Young Haymitch?
Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy
Joseph Zada takes on the massive responsibility of playing young Haymitch. This isn’t just any role—it’s portraying the origin story of one of the franchise’s most beloved characters. No pressure, right?
From the trailer, Zada looks like he’s bringing the right mix of cockiness and vulnerability that a teenage Haymitch would need. He’s got to be charming enough that we root for him, but we also need to see the seeds of the bitter survivor he becomes.
McKenna Grace as Maysilee Donner
If that last name sounds familiar, it should. Maysilee Donner is Madge’s aunt—the girl who gave Katniss the mockingjay pin in the first book. Maysilee was Haymitch’s ally and friend in the arena, from District 12 just like him.
McKenna Grace is perfectly cast here. She’s proven she can do vulnerable and strong in equal measure, which is exactly what this role needs. Without spoiling too much, Maysilee’s story is going to wreck you.
Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird
Here’s where it gets interesting. Lenore Dove Baird is rumored to be connected to Lucy Gray Baird from The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Is she a descendant? A relative? We don’t know yet, but the connection to the previous prequel is deliberate.
Whitney Peak’s character is also rumored to be Haymitch’s love interest, which—given what we know about Haymitch’s tragic past—means this relationship probably doesn’t end well.
Ralph Fiennes as President Snow
Ralph Fiennes stepping into Donald Sutherland’s shoes as a younger President Snow is inspired casting. This is Snow during his rise to absolute power, perfecting the cruelty and manipulation that would define his reign for decades.
If you loved (and by “loved” I mean “were terrified by”) Tom Blyth’s performance as young Snow in Songbirds and Snakes, seeing Fiennes play him at the next stage should be chilling.
Elle Fanning as Young Effie Trinket
Yes, we’re getting a young Effie Trinket, and yes, Elle Fanning is playing her. This is Effie before the colorful wigs and over-the-top Capitol fashion became her armor—back when she was just starting her career as an escort.
It’ll be fascinating to see if they show us a more naive Effie, someone who hasn’t yet witnessed decades of children being sent to their deaths.
Other Notable Cast Members
- Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman – The propaganda machine himself, younger but just as polished
- Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee – Before he became a rebel, he was a Gamemaker
- Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow – A fellow tribute who forms a friendship with Haymitch in the arena
The Trailer Breakdown: What We Learned
The official trailer dropped on November 20, 2025, and immediately reminded everyone why we fell in love with this franchise in the first place.
What Stands Out
The arena looks brutal. We’re talking waterfalls, cliffs, and terrain that looks specifically designed to kill you. The Capitol didn’t just double the tributes—they made the arena twice as deadly.
Haymitch has allies. We see him forming bonds with Maysilee and other tributes, which makes the inevitable betrayals and deaths even harder to watch. You know most of these kids don’t make it out.
The reaping is horrifying. Watching District 12 send four tributes instead of two drives home just how cruel the Quarter Quell twist was.
Woody Harrelson’s voiceover hits different. Hearing older Haymitch’s voice saying “I think these games are gonna be different” while watching his younger self fight for survival? Chef’s kiss of emotional manipulation.
Visual Style and Tone
Director Francis Lawrence (who also directed Catching Fire and both Mockingjay films) is back, and you can tell. The cinematography has that same epic, gritty quality that made Catching Fire the best-looking film in the franchise.
The trailer balances massive spectacle with intimate character moments. One second you’re watching 48 tributes standing on platforms, the next you’re seeing Haymitch’s face as he realizes what he’s up against.
Will Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson Appear?
Yes! Both Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are returning for cameo appearances as Katniss and Peeta.
Here’s how it’ll probably work: we’ll get bookend scenes showing older Haymitch telling Katniss and Peeta about his Games. It’s a narrative framing device that connects the prequel to the original trilogy and gives fans that nostalgia hit they’re craving.
It’s smart storytelling. We’re not just watching young Haymitch’s story—we’re watching older Haymitch remember it, which adds an extra layer of tragedy knowing how everything turned out.
How Does This Connect to The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes?
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes took place during the 10th Hunger Games, 40 years before Sunrise on the Reaping. That film showed us how President Snow became the monster we know, and how the Games evolved from barbaric spectacles into propaganda tools.
Sunrise on the Reaping picks up that thread. This is Snow fully in power, refining his methods of control. The Quarter Quell isn’t just about entertainment—it’s about reminding the districts that the Capitol can make things worse whenever it wants.
The Lucy Gray Connection
The Lenore Dove Baird character suggests a direct connection to Lucy Gray Baird, the protagonist of Songbirds and Snakes. Did Lucy Gray survive? Did she have children? Is Lenore her descendant?
These questions tie the two prequels together and give longtime fans Easter eggs to hunt for. It’s world-building done right.
Why the 50th Hunger Games Story Matters
Here’s why this movie is more than just another prequel cash grab:
It answers questions we’ve had for years. How did Haymitch win? What happened to him afterward? Why is he so broken?
It shows the Capitol at its cruelest. The Second Quarter Quell was designed to be twice as traumatic. Seeing that onscreen will be brutal but necessary.
It completes Haymitch’s arc. We’ve only ever known him as the drunk mentor. Seeing him as a teenager fighting for his life gives his character depth and tragedy.
It connects all three eras. From Snow’s origin to Haymitch’s Games to Katniss’s rebellion, we’re seeing how each generation shaped the next.
Release Date and What to Expect
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping hits theaters on November 20, 2026. That’s almost two full years away, which means Lionsgate is giving this the prestige treatment it deserves.
Why November 2026?
The Hunger Games has always been a November franchise. The original film came out in March 2012, but Catching Fire shifted to November 2013, and the franchise stayed there. It’s prime Oscar season positioning, and it gives the film legs through the holiday season.
Also, November 2026 will be five years after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. That’s enough time for nostalgia to build without exhausting the audience.
What We’re Most Excited About
The arena. How did Haymitch outsmart the Gamemakers? What was his strategy? The books hint at it, but seeing it onscreen will be incredible.
Maysilee’s story. Her friendship with Haymitch and eventual fate is one of the most heartbreaking parts of the lore.
Young President Snow. Ralph Fiennes playing Snow during his prime is going to be terrifying in the best way.
The emotional weight. We know Haymitch wins. We also know he loses everything that matters. That dramatic irony is going to hurt.
Final Thoughts
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping has all the ingredients to be something special. You’ve got a talented cast, a director who understands the franchise, source material from Suzanne Collins herself, and a story that fans have wanted to see for over a decade.
Will it live up to the hype? We’ll find out in November 2026. But if the trailer is any indication, we’re in for an emotional, brutal, and powerful addition to the Hunger Games saga.
May the odds be ever in its favor.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping come out?
November 20, 2026 in theaters worldwide.
Who is playing young Haymitch Abernathy?
Joseph Zada is playing Haymitch in his first Games at age 16.
Is this based on a book?
Yes, Suzanne Collins published the novel in 2025. The film adaptation follows her story.
Will the original cast return?
Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson appear in cameos as Katniss and Peeta.
Do I need to watch The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes first?
Not required, but recommended. It provides context for President Snow’s character and the evolution of the Games.
What is the Second Quarter Quell?
The 50th Hunger Games featured 48 tributes instead of 24—double the usual number—making it the deadliest Games in history.
Is Francis Lawrence directing?
Yes, Francis Lawrence returns after directing Catching Fire and both Mockingjay films.
